Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. Section 1 of P.L.1981,
c.256 (C.52:4B-22) is amended to read as follows:

1. a. Every State, county,
and municipal police department and hospital or other place of emergency
medical care shall have available and shall post in a public place information
booklets, pamphlets or other pertinent written information, to be supplied by
the Victims of Crime Compensation Agency, relating to the availability of crime
victims' compensation including all necessary application blanks required to be
filed with the agency.

b. Included in the
information supplied by the Victims of Crime Compensation Agency shall be
information for victims of sexual offenses. This information shall contain the
location of rape crisis centers in all geographical areas throughout the State
and shall instruct victims of sexual offenses that if a rape crisis center is
not available in a victim's immediate geographical area, the victim may contact
the appropriate county victim-witness coordinator appointed by the Chief of the
Office of Victim-Witness Advocacy established pursuant to P.L.1985, c.404
(C.52:4B-39 et seq.). The information shall also2[1:

(1) include a description
of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner and Sexual Assault Response Team programs
and inform victims about the provision of payment for services to victims
directly associated with a forensic sexual assault examination; and

(2)1]2provide
that victims2[1who
utilize participating health care facilities1]2
will not be charged any fee for services that are directly
associated with a forensic sexual assault examination, including routine
medical screening, medications for prophylaxis of sexually transmitted
infections, pregnancy tests, emergency contraception, supplies, equipment and
use of space.

Unless the victim requires
immediate medical attention, this information shall be personally conveyed to
the victim of a sexual offense by a representative of the hospital or place of
emergency care before a medical examination of the victim is conducted, or by a
representative of the police department before the victim's statement is taken,
to afford the victim the opportunity to arrange to have assistance from the
rape crisis center or county victim-witness coordinator during these
procedures. Hospitals shall be held harmless from suits emanating from a
hospital's carrying out the obligation to convey information to victims of
sexual offenses.

c. Every police department
shall, upon the filing of a report of a violent crime, make available to any
victim information concerning crime victims' compensation.

(cf: P.L.2007, c.95, s.24)

1[2. Section 4 of P.L.2001,
c.81 (C.52:4B-52) is amended to read as follows:

4. The program coordinator
shall:

a. Coordinate the county
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program in accordance with standard protocols for
the provision of information and services to victims of sexual assault
developed by the Attorney General pursuant to subsection d. of section 6 of
P.L.1985, c.404 (C.52:4B-44);

b. Perform forensic sexual
assault examinations on victims of sexual assault in accordance with the
standards developed by the Attorney General and appropriate medical and nursing
standards of care;

c. Designate one or more
licensed physicians or certified forensic sexual assault nurse examiners to
perform forensic sexual assault examinations on victims of sexual assault in
accordance with the standards developed by the Attorney General and appropriate
medical and nursing standards of care;

e. Develop and implement a
standardized education and training program to provide instruction to members
of the county Sexual Assault Response Team established pursuant to section 6 of
this act which shall include, but not be limited to, instruction in the
following areas:

(1) the importance of a
coordinated, multi-disciplinary response to a report of sexual assault;

(2) the policies and
procedures which govern the responsibilities of each team member;

(3) the psychological
effects of sexual assault and rape trauma syndrome on the victim and the
victim's family and friends;

(4) the collection, handling
and documentation of forensic evidence; and

(5) confidentiality issues
associated with the treatment of a victim of sexual assault and the
investigation of a report of sexual assault;

g. Develop, in cooperation
with licensed health care facilities, protocols for the storage of forensic
evidence;

h. Provide appropriate
services to victims of sexual assault, including the opportunity to tend to
personal hygiene needs, obtain fresh clothing and speak with a rape care
advocate prior to and during any medical procedure or law enforcement
investigation, unless the victim requires immediate medical attention, as appropriate;

i. Collaborate with law
enforcement officials and the county rape care program to ensure that the needs
of victims of sexual assault are met in a compassionate manner; [and]

j. Participate in regular
meetings of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program Coordinating Council
established pursuant to section 7 of this act; and

k. Develop and implement
procedures to ensure that victims of sexual assault are not charged any fee for
services that are directly associated with forensic sexual assault examinations,
including routine medical screening, medications for prophylaxis of sexually
transmitted infections, pregnancy tests, emergency contraception, supplies,
equipment and use of space.

As used in this section and
section 6 of this act, "rape care advocate" means a victim counselor,
as defined pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1987, c.169 (C.2A:84A-22.14), who
specializes in the provision of rape care services.

(cf: P.L.2001, c.81, s.4)]1

2[12. Section
17 of P.L.2001, c.81 (C.52:4B-60) is amended to read as follows:

17. The Attorney General,
pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410
(C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the
purposes of this act. The Attorney General shall also establish guidelines governing
a county Sexual Assault Response Team's response to a report of sexual assault
pursuant to the provisions of section 6 of [this
act] P.L.2001,
c.81 (C.52:4B-54). These guidelines shall include procedures to ensure that
victims of sexual assault who utilize participating health care facilities are
not charged any fee for services that are directly associated with forensic
sexual assault examinations, including routine medical screening, medications
for prophylaxis of sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy tests, emergency
contraception, supplies, equipment and use of space. As used in this act,
“participating health care facilities” means health care facilities that
participate in the Sexual Assault Response Team program through an agreement with
the county prosecutor’s office.1

(cf: P.L.2001, c.81, s.17)]2

22. Section 4 of
P.L.2001, c.81 (C.52:4B-52) is amended to read as follows:

4. The program coordinator
shall:

a. Coordinate the county
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program in accordance with standard protocols for
the provision of information and services to victims of sexual assault
developed by the Attorney General pursuant to subsection d. of section 6 of
P.L.1985, c.404 (C.52:4B-44);

b. Perform forensic sexual
assault examinations on victims of sexual assault in accordance with the
standards developed by the Attorney General and appropriate medical and nursing
standards of care;

c. Designate one or more
licensed physicians or certified forensic sexual assault nurse examiners to
perform forensic sexual assault examinations on victims of sexual assault in
accordance with the standards developed by the Attorney General and appropriate
medical and nursing standards of care;

e. Develop and implement a
standardized education and training program to provide instruction to members
of the county Sexual Assault Response Team established pursuant to section 6 of
this act which shall include, but not be limited to, instruction in the
following areas:

(1) the importance of a
coordinated, multi-disciplinary response to a report of sexual assault;

(2) the policies and
procedures which govern the responsibilities of each team member;

(3) the psychological
effects of sexual assault and rape trauma syndrome on the victim and the
victim's family and friends;

(4) the collection, handling
and documentation of forensic evidence; and

(5) confidentiality issues
associated with the treatment of a victim of sexual assault and the
investigation of a report of sexual assault;

g. Develop, in cooperation
with licensed health care facilities, protocols for the storage of forensic
evidence;

h. Provide appropriate
services to victims of sexual assault, including the opportunity to tend to
personal hygiene needs, obtain fresh clothing and speak with a rape care
advocate prior to and during any medical procedure or law enforcement
investigation, unless the victim requires immediate medical attention, as
appropriate;

i. Collaborate with law
enforcement officials and the county rape care program to ensure that the needs
of victims of sexual assault are met in a compassionate manner; [and]

j. Participate in regular
meetings of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program Coordinating Council
established pursuant to section 7 of this act; and

k. Develop and implement
procedures to ensure that victims of sexual assault are not charged any fee for
services that are directly associated with forensic sexual assault
examinations, including routine medical screening, medications for prophylaxis
of sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy tests, emergency contraception,
supplies, equipment and use of space.

As used in this section and
section 6 of this act, "rape care advocate" means a victim counselor,
as defined pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1987, c.169 (C.2A:84A-22.14), who
specializes in the provision of rape care services.2